I LOVE cables

Finally a pair of grass green socks just for me! I am ashamed to admit how many times I've checked Sensational Socks out from our library (intralibrary loan no less!) without knitting a single sock. The first few times, I just couldn't understand the appeal of it to so many knitters. Cannot say that I really know what tripped my switch but I'm a convert now. I'm waiting patiently for the other SS books to become available through the library so I can check them out. It bites to live in a town without a bookstore.

Vital Stats for these lusicious green socks:

Pattern: 3x3 Cable with Moss Stitch from aforementioned book
Yarn: KP Palette in Grass. A note about this yarn: it can be splitty and isn't super soft but I bought it as a filler to get the free shipping last order. Depending on how it washes up, I'd probably use it again for my own personal socks just because it comes is so many colors, wonderfully shaded from light to dark.
Needles: Bamboo DPN, US 2.
I used the 68 stitch version of the pattern without knitting a swatch first. Why? Because I know in order to use my US2s, I typically cast on 52-56 stitches and cables pull in enough to likely taken in the "slack". My gamble paid off. These are just the perfect amount of tight-loose to be comfy and not leave a tourniquet mark at the end of the day.

Hubster told me he thought these were going to be the ugliest socks I'd ever knit when I started the first one. When I finished it, he declared it a keeper. I believe I'll be ordering some girly pink for E a pair at Christmas since she likes the cable action as well. And she could identify them as cables!

In other news:
Spent yesterday cutting out and stitching together some adorable Holly Hobbie dolls for 3 of my very favorite little girls in the world. (Hi, G&R!). The evening tv watching slot made quick work of stuffing 6 arms, 3 bodies and 2 legs. I have to finish sewing the remaining legs together today, then I will hunt up fabric from the stash for outfits. Their heads are made from children's socks which I keep forgetting to buy when I'm out. And I need to find a suitable yarn for their hair. I am tickled E wants her own HH doll but still loves mine. Poor old gal has had "surgery" to reattach every limb and her head at least twice. I believe she even had a hair replacement sometime in the late 70s. Well loved.

ETA: I usually steer away from politics(namely the war for oil issue) here but this young solider's blog is one of my new favorite reads. Go check out Jake's Life.

Clessidra and Skirt

I finished these weeks ago. They lay in a heap on the floor near my knitting spot crying silently to be modeled and packed away lovingly until fall. The sobs were just too much for me. Forgive the icky indoor shots, we are having a bit of dreary, cold weather and rather than wait another few days and endure more sobbing from the socks, I begged one of the resident photogs to get busy already.







Vital Stats: Clessidra from Spring '07 Knitty. Knit on US 1 dpns using less than 2 full hanks of Bare. Actual knitting time was about 2.5 weeks,I think. While I have a love-hate relationship with Knitpicks most of the time, Bare is heavenly. I do believe underwear could be knit from it and be an enjoyable wear. It's just that soft to me. I have no idea why this shot looks so pixelated to me, I hope it's clearer to everyone else. (This is the Sexy Leg pose for someone who knows what I'm talking about. haha)






I am bit embarassed to blog about this latest FO. Not because I am unhappy with the actual finished project but because I'm unhappy with how I look. Anyone over 25 can relate to that, I'm sure. Ignore the knee socks...the photog thought we were shooting kilt shots appearently. Also ignore the green shirt...I was too lazy to change into the pale yellow shirt I have for this skirt. So there.



Vital Stats: 100% cotton print found on the $1/yard table at Stuff*mart, packaged bias tapes (2 packages: one single fold, one double fold). Pattern drafted by yours truly based on directions found in this great book, Sew What! Skirts that I borrowed from the library. I made the A-line wrap skirt (called Breezy Beach Wrap in the book) but left the actual ties off since this is a muslin of sorts and I am toying with the idea of using snaps to close this. The total time invested in this project, including drafting the pattern, boiled down to one evening after dinner. We eat dinner at 5, baths start at 7:30, so that's fairly quick. Total cost for this skirt is roughly $5.00. Intended wear: vacation '07. Will I make another one? Probably, from denim and a smidge longer. Do I recommend this book for everyone? Definitely. I am not a talented sketcher at all, nor have I ever been able to draft a pattern from directions before. This book is well-written although I had to read it, lay it down and let the info stew a bit before it completely made sense to me. (Hey, Christy and Amanda, I think you both would find this book useful. Especially since you have girls to experiment with!)

Borrowing an idea from Shizzknits, my version of Love Thursday:




Hubster's endless cardigan: DONE. Well, it still needs buttons and blocking but hey, I have roughly 9 months to get those done. Vital Stats: No-name 100% wool picked up last spring at a big box craft store, clearanced. US 5 and 6 circs and dpns, using the V-neck Cardigan pattern from The Complete Book of Raglan Sweaters (Thanks, sis Jan!) I just noticed that the picture looks like it has reddish blotches, it does not. Straight, boring Army green.


Definitely lovin' these Garterlac Dishclothes. So easy once you get going and perfect car knitting now that J has her permit. I am a flinchy rider. Let's call it a control issue and move along. These are now safely tucked away in my gift drawer. No particular person in mind, just one of those things I had to knit.


Mariah will be coming back out to play this weekend. I finally understand the whole sleeve issue but felt it best to have an entire day devoted to just her before starting up again. Well, that and I haven't ordered the rest of the needed yarn yet. I just cannot stash yarn like I have fabric. You'll see why in this coming to a blog near you soon, a whole post about my sewing mess and the massive clean-up efforts, complete with pictures! It should be enough to make anyone cringe. lol.

FO Picture

PJ Pants#1, 100% cotton fabric bought on clearance, sportswear elastic bought in mega quantities, pattern drafted from an old pair of worn-out Fashion Bug pj bottoms. No, I do not have a bow leg as it appears in the picture. It's just a weird pose since my photographer wasn't as quick as I thought. And the giant pink spots are actually cute dragonflies. Still searching for a tee to wear with these.